Mangomarca
Mangomarca Archaeological Complex · Huaca Mangomarca
Late Intermediate (c.1200–1470 CE) – Lima and Ychsma-Chancay·Lima – Wari – Ychsma – Chancay·🇵🇪 Lima, San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru
About
About Mangomarca
Mangomarca is a compound adobe pyramid-temple complex terraced on the right-bank terrace of the lower Rímac at San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima. First occupied by the Lima culture and reoccupied by Wari then Ychsma-Chancay, its principal Huaca Mangomarca rises 12 m in six stepped adobe platforms with tapial walls and plastered sunken courts, enclosing storehouses and painted chambers. The surrounding walled urban sector with alley-like streets controlled the bocatoma irrigation canals feeding Lima's agricultural oases.
Despite intense modern urban pressure, rescue excavations by Ruth Shady and later the Mangomarca Archaeological Project revealed polychrome murals, Spondylus workshops, and cemetery platforms that illustrate Lima-Ychsma continuity before Inca annexation.
Why it mattersMangomarca is a compound adobe pyramid-temple complex terraced on the right-bank terrace of the lower Rímac at San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima. First occupied by the Lima culture and reoccupied by Wari then Ychsma-Chancay, its principal Huaca Mangomarca rises 12 m in six stepped adobe platforms with ta Type-site defining regional sequence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction
- 02Function of elite vs communal architecture
Theories
- 01Regional capital coordinating irrigation and exchange
- 02Ritual-ceremonial amphitheatre aligned to astronomy
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600 CE foundations, 1200–1470 CE primary occupation
- Period
- Late Intermediate (c.1200–1470 CE) – Lima and Ychsma-Chancay
- Culture
- Lima – Wari – Ychsma – Chancay
- Builders
- Lima (late) and Ychsma
- Purpose
- Fortified adobe temple-pyramid complex and elite residence controlling lower Rímac mid-valley bocatoma canals
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600 CE foundations, 1200–1470 CE primary occupation
Initial construction
c.800–900 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
c.1000–1532
Late horizon / Inca incorporation where applicable
On the ground
Structures & features
12.0140° S · 77.0050° W · 210 m · 2 mapped features
Huaca Mangomarca Principal Pyramid
pyramidStepped adobe pyramid 70×40×12m with sunken court and tapial retaining walls
12.0137° S · 77.0048° WWalled Residential Sector South
ancient villageAgglutinated alley-way household compounds with storage colcas and cemetery platform
12.0144° S · 77.0053° W
Gallery